Golden Retriever Adoption

What do you need to know before you adopt a Golden Retriever? We asked the experts!

We'd like people to know that Goldens are wonderful, loving, gentle and intuitive dogs, and they also have one of the highest cancer rates of any other breed. If you adopt a Golden Retriever, you must be committed to them to the very end of their lives and not abandon them in shelters, where we find so many senior Goldens.

More about Golden Retrievers:

Golden Retrievers, affectionately referred to as Goldens, are typically medium to large dogs with strong athletic builds. They are often described as having expressions that exude intelligence and gentleness, and these are both qualities that most Golden Retrievers and Golden Retriever mixes have in abundance! Goldens usually have thick coats that can be either straight or wavy, and soft drop ears.

Those who share their home with Golden Retrievers and Golden Retriever mixes frequently describe them as tremendously intelligent companion animals that love everyone and everything, including other animals. They can be extremely eager to please, affectionate, devoted and obedient. In fact, they actually love to learn! This is a breed that is known to be particularly gentle and patient with children and to display equal parts of charm and playfulness.

Most Golden Retrievers will shed all year round. They may shed more excessively, at least twice each year, when their coat is changing for the season. Regular brushing will minimize the amount of fur that is shed throughout the home. And, like other breeds with water repellent coats, the Golden should only be bathed when necessary to avoid removing the natural oils from their coat.

Golden Retrievers are highly intelligent and social animals that require exercise and mental stimulation to avoid boredom and resulting behavioral problems and hyperactivity. Most Goldens love swimming-related activities, playing fetch, and even playing hide and seek. This is an activity that mimics search and rescue activities. Don’t forget to reward your pet with high praise or small treats when he finds you! If these activities are not possible for you on a regular basis, a long walk or a brisk run will help keep your Golden Retriever happy.

More about the Golden Retriever

Thinking about adopting a Golden Retriever puppy? Here are three reasons to adopt an adult instead:

1. You have kids.

Like most people, you’ve probably heard time and again that if you have kids, you should adopt a Golden Retriever puppy (or, gasp! find a Golden Retriever puppy for sale). The rationale is that an adult shelter dog is an unknown quantity, so buying or adopting a Golden Retriever puppy is safer. Actually, the opposite is closer to the truth. Puppies are not usually a great choice with kids; they have very limited control over their biting/mouthing impulses, and when you mix that with lots of energy and unbelievably sharp little teeth, it’s a recipe for your small fry to be in tears. Puppies are tiny chewing machines and can destroy a favorite stuffed animal or security blanket in short order. Adult dogs, on the other hand, are generally calmer, and their personalities are already fully developed and on display. When you meet an adult dog, you can see how they are with kids and with other animals. This takes the guesswork out of wondering how a puppy will turn out as a full-grown dog.

2. You value your possessions.

Puppies teethe. They have a biological need to chew, they want to play constantly, and they can’t discriminate between appropriate chew toys and, say, your favorite pair of Manolos. Puppies eventually can be trained out of this behavior, of course, and there are exceptions to every rule, but generally speaking, an adult Golden Retriever (or any adult dog) is much less likely to shred your drapes like coleslaw or function as a “helpful” canine document shredder.

3. You work, or otherwise leave the house.

Pop quiz: how often does a two-month-old puppy need to be taken out to do his business during the day? A) every six hours; B) every eight hours; or C) every two hours?

If you answered B, or even A, you’re an eternal optimist! The correct answer, though, is C: every two hours. When you’re housetraining a puppy, the general rule of thumb is that they can hold their bladder one hour for each month they’ve been alive (up to a max of about eight to ten hours). So a three-month-old Golden Retriever puppy needs to go outside every three hours, a four-month-old needs to go every four hours, and so on. If you’re retired, or you work from home, or you’re taking the puppy to work with you or to a doggy daycare (make sure your puppy is up-to-date on all vaccines before considering that last option), great! But if you’re planning on leaving your dog alone during your workday, you’ll definitely want to adopt a full-grown dog, ideally from a Golden Retriever rescue that can help you find the right dog for your lifestyle.

Let’s bust these myths about adopting a Golden Retriever

Time to get real: when we ask people what reservations they have about Golden Retriever adoption, we hear the same things over and over again. If you’re operating under any of these mistaken beliefs, you just might be missing out on meeting the best friend you’ll ever have. So it’s time for us to set the record straight:

You CAN find purebred Golden Retrievers for adoption in an animal shelter or rescue group.

Golden Retrievers and Golden Retriever puppies for adoption are NOT in any way inferior to or different from those for sale.

The dogs in the shelter are NOT there because they’re bad dogs.

If you want a puppy, you DON’T have to buy a Golden Retriever puppy. Golden Retriever puppies ARE available for adoption.

If you have children, adopting a dog is likely the SAFEST option.

Here’s the truth: you absolutely can find a Golden Retriever, even a Golden Retriever puppy, for adoption in an animal shelter or rescue group. And they don’t end up there because they’re bad dogs. In fact, often the only difference between the dog in the shelter and the one on your couch is a bit of bad luck. Think about it: let’s say you buy a Golden Retriever puppy for sale by a breeder. Your new dog is great; you immediately enroll the two of you in obedience classes, and soon your best pal is housebroken and well trained. But what would happen to your wonderful Golden Retriever if, tragically, something happened to you? What if he escaped from your home and ran away? Your best pal would very likely end up in an animal shelter. The lucky person who adopts your Golden Retriever would be getting a great dog! Animal shelters are filled with wonderful, healthy, well-behaved dogs who have been in homes before, but whose owners have fallen on hard times. Many of them are housebroken and trained. Golden Retriever rescue organizations often care for their adoptable dogs in foster homes, which means their foster families will be able to tell you if the Golden Retriever you want to adopt is good with other animals or kids, and if he or she is housebroken and knows any basic commands. As you can see, adopting from a rescue organization is likely the very safest way for people with children to add a new Golden Retriever to their family!

Below you'll find many Golden Retriever focused rescue organizations. This is not a complete list! If you are a Golden Retriever focused rescue and would like to be included, please sign up for an Adopt-a-Pet.com account here, then submit your request using the Contact Us link after you login to your Adopt-a-Pet.com rescue or shelter account. Thank you!